Still Life

Books | Fiction / Historical / 20th Century / World War II

4.3

(98)

Sarah Winman

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER WINNER OF DYMOCKS BOOK OF THE YEAR A GUARDIAN BEST BOOK OF 2021 A BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK WINNER OF THE INWORDS LITERARY AWARD ‘Sheer joy' Graham Norton ‘Utterly beautiful ... filled with hope’ Joanna Cannon, author of Three Things About Elsie ‘A bear-hug of a book’ Rachel Joyce, author of Miss Benson’s Beetle From the author of When God was a Rabbit and Tin Man, Still Life is a big-hearted story of people brought together by love, war, art and the ghost of E.M. Forster. 1944, in the ruined wine cellar of a Tuscan villa, as bombs fall around them, two strangers meet and share an extraordinary evening. Ulysses Temper is a young British soldier, Evelyn Skinner is a sexagenarian art historian and possible spy. She has come to Italy to salvage paintings from the wreckage and relive memories of the time she encountered EM Forster and had her heart stolen by an Italian maid in a particular Florentine room with a view. Evelyn’s talk of truth and beauty plants a seed in Ulysses’ mind that will shape the trajectory of his life – and of those who love him – for the next four decades. Moving from the Tuscan Hills and piazzas of Florence, to the smog of London’s East End, Still Life is a sweeping, joyful novel about beauty, love, family and fate. ‘Four course nourishment for all Winman fans’ Patrick Gale, author of Take Nothing With You ‘Extraordinary . . . my book of the year’ Liz Nugent, author of Our Little Cruelties ‘The kind of story that bolsters the heart and soul’ Donal Ryan, author of Strange Flowers Sunday Times bestseller 09/06/2021

Historical Fiction

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More Details:

Author

Sarah Winman

Pages

448

Publisher

HarperCollins Publishers

Published Date

2021-06-01

ISBN

0008283370 9780008283377

Ratings

Google: 5

Community ReviewsSee all

"A detailed labyrinth of characters who connect to themselves and others through art, love, and war. The prose is inviting and intertwining, giving readers a glimpse into the everyday lives and struggles of characters who are so completely genuine and interesting. The strength of this novel is its use of its namesake; there is seldom a better way to tell a story than to use the little things, the day by day ups and downs of friendships and interests through the years. "

Emily

"Not a quick read but if you take time to get into it, it is a beautiful world to get stuck into. Basically join the characters as they go about their lives "

A B

Amelia B

"A joyous work of historical fiction that expertly portrays all the ups and downs life has to offer."

Ricki Marking-Camuto

"One of the most moving, incredible books I’ve ever read. Easily in my top 5. It’s a book you wanna savor, drink in all its glorious prose, detailing a story of found family, self-discovery, and love in all its forms. Truly a masterpiece that I hope to read again someday. "

Alessia

"Some of the characters were well-written, but overall the story felt a little too proud of itself. The ending especially fell flat"

Kaity Hammerstein

"If Still Life were a movie, it would have begun in black and white, then moved between watercolor, sepia, and technicolor. Believe in a talking parrot and talking trees. Open your heart to unlikely romance. Chuckle at the humor and deliberate redundancies. Love each character. And, most of all, cherish the original and captivating writing."

Patty Hardwick

"One of the best books I’ve read. So heartwarming and tender. It’s a book I want to keep on my bookshelf just to look at it and remember loving all of it deeply. "